Gym Visit

I recently broke down and joined a gym. My last few pregnancy pounds are melting off, and while I have enjoyed running around my neighborhood I feel bad that my exercise means Reese is trapped (stationary) in her stroller. (Especially now that I'm considering running longer distances, and she always wants to move it's not a good combo.) I did some research on gyms last week with some very strict criteria: 1) proximity to our house--I don't want to spend precious time commuting to and from a gym with Reese in tow. 2) cost--duh. 3)childcare--second duh. These three criteria drastically cut my options--leaving me with either Lifetime Fitness or the YMCA. After touring both facilities and asking millions of questions about their childcare, I chose Lifetime Fitness. While they are, by no means, the cheapest gym in town, there was only a $9 difference between their membership and the YMCA (when factoring in childcare costs). Hands down, Lifetime has a MUCH better childcare facility for little ones. The only draw back is that we have to make an "appointment" in the childcare facility at least 24 hours ahead of time (this helps ensure they have proper staff:infant ratios in the 4-12mo room).

Today was our first day to try it out. I was probably more nervous than Reese about her first non-family babysitting trial. When I arrived there seemed like a lot of infants were in the room, but I soon learned that I had arrived at a transition time and most of them were being picked up. They gave me a pager in case Reese had trouble and I was off. I stayed for an hour and then went to pick her up. When I arrived, she was the only "baby" left, so the staff were holding her and carrying her around in the 1-3 year old room so she could watch them have "bubble time." Reese was in heaven watching the other kids. I asked how she did and the staff said she was great and didn't have any problems. Then they added, "You know, she's VERY mobile. She was interested in everything." Yep, that's my girl!